NTID Greets Market Demand With New Major

In less than a year, a state-of-the-art program in Laboratory Science Technology (LST) offered at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), a college of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), has established itself as a solid career option for students interested in studying a science based field that leads to employment in the food and environmental testing industry.

"This program is the culmination of nearly six years of investigation and development by both experts in the food and environmental sectors, as well as experts from RIT’s Environmental Management and Technology (LST) program," said Dominic Peroni, LST program coordinator.

LST replaces the former Medical Laboratory Technology program offered by NTID. Students may pursue Associate in Occupational Studies or Associate in Applied Science degrees.

Students gain skills in multiple areas of science and mathematics, develop "wet lab" or bench skills, and participate in at least one cooperative work experience. Upon graduation, they can enter a wide range of industries as lab science technicians, with a specialized focus on food laboratory testing, such as quality assurance, or environmental laboratory testing.

For Lori Poole, 34, of Rochester, the program melds perfectly her interests in both lab work and report writing.

"I picked this program because I love collecting samples from food and the environment; testing them using brightlight microscopy; and writing reports about possible contamination of food or other things in the environment," she said.

Poole, who has two children, hopes to find a part-time position as a lab technician that will allow her to contribute to her family’s income while enjoying a profession that she clearly loves.

"I’ll be qualified to work in a variety of labs when I graduate," she said. "Not just food or environmental companies, but maybe cosmetic firms or pharmaceutical companies—I know I will have the skills they’ll need."

A recent marketing analysis cites strong labor market growth projections in the research and testing service sector. This program gives students the flexibility to pursue careers in food, environmental, biological, or chemical labs.

For more information about the LST program, contact Peroni at djpnts@rit.edu or at 716/585-475-6343 (tty).

The first and largest technological college in the world for students who are deaf and hard of hearing, NTID, one of eight colleges of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), offers educational programs and access and support services to 1,100 students from around the world who study, live, and socialize with 14,000 hearing students on the RIT campus. Web address: www.rit.edu/NTID.